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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 1 • 5 A fter last season's grease fire, Purdue really, really, really wants — and needs — to have a successful season in 2015. Obviously. But what is "success"? Is it something that can be defined up front or do you just know it when you see it? Is it quantified in wins, compet- itiveness, fan engagement, person- nel development or what? Yes. It's all of those things, however the combination might be consti- tuted. The meaning of success lies in the eye of the beholder. I remember a basketball season in 2005-06 in which Purdue lost 19 of the 28 games it played, yet that season was generally viewed in context as a successful, or at least an acceptable one, because of the way an overmatched, injury-riddled team competed. Those are rare in- stances, though. For Purdue now, in a season in which the mere occasional touch- down would qualify as "progress" over 2013, success can be easily identifiable this season. It starts with winning, the one column where programs and coaches are judged no matter what, re- gardless of circumstance. That's the deal. The Boilermakers need to win games this season, starting with the season's first month, a greased path into the conference season in which three of the first four games are very winnable, games Big Ten teams ought to win. If this group experiences the success early that the schedule sets it up for, who knows how it responds? At no point last year did you see a Purdue team that had its head up, figuratively speaking. A 3-1 start can, and should, be reasonably expected. From there, if nothing else, Purdue has to look like it belongs on the field during Big Ten play for this season to be considered a success. Another winless league campaign would be a severe disappointment, obviously, but the most impor - tant thing, looking at this up front, is competitiveness. If Purdue is a better, more physical, less mistake- prone team against Big Ten com- petition, that's the first step. And if that jump is made, winning a game or two or even more takes care of itself. You have to start somewhere and you have to look the part before you can play the part in this case. Purdue needs its fan base en- gaged. Winning is a huge part of that, but still just a part. Before fans see a winner, they just want to see a quality product again. Fans want wins, but my belief is they'll re- spond favorably to a team that sim- ply competes. Purdue has to give reason to believe better days are ahead, that things are moving the right way. Personnel development is a big part of that. When Purdue's been good his- torically, it's been in large part due to strong quarterback play. This staff has so much invested in Danny Etling at this point. Now, it has to pay off. He has to make a jump and show the ball is in good hands not only this season, but maybe into future seasons. Purdue played a lot of young players last season. They should be better now, and if they are, that bodes well not only for 2014, but 2015 and 2016, as well. Success in this case comes in many forms. But the bottom line: Purdue has to be better — much better, however low a bar that might be — to call this a successful season. Yeah, bold assertion, I know. Purdue will be better. How much better it has to be, though, to call this season a "suc - cess" lies in the eye of the beholder. Again, when it comes to de- fining "success," I think you know it when you see it. j Neubert can be contacted at BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com F R O M E D I T O R B R I A N N E U B E R T What's Good Enough? K R A N N E R T L E A D E R S H I P S P E A K E R S S E R I E S T H U R S D A Y 9 . 2 5 .1 4 6:30 PM PMU BALLROOMS WWW.KRANNERT.PURDUE.EDU/EVENTS/LSS GENE KRANZ MORE INFORMATION/TICKETS: LOU UNDERWOOD, 765-494-0901 OR KRANNERTEVENTS@PURDUE.EDU EA/EOU S P O N S O R S B R O N Z E G O L D S I LV E R Karl and Kathy Krapek The Gadomski Foundation